Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-11-18

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notion. When they awoke the sun
was overhead. Could Gottfrey have
spent four hours in driving five miles
Could he be going further than usual:
They whispered to eacn other in alarm
but there was no way Of finding he
real situation. John had never made
this desperate venture hefnre, and
therefore knew none of the landmarks.
They dared not let Gottrrev know
that they were there until the jour
ney was over, or he migh abandon them
on the road. Who knew what Wild
beasts inhabited these jungles of lau-
rel through which they drove.
Noon passed. Gottfrey stopped TO
bait his mules, and to eat "a hearty
meal ont Of his packed basket
The children had brought no food.
They were hearty eaters who never
had waited ten minutes for their mid
day meal. The smell of Sohners ham
and cheese melted th.ir hearts. They
began at once to think Of tie misery
Of their mothers, and to shed tears OF
remorse.
need not dwell on their sufftrlngs
viii h were real enough before the
journey was over.
Gottfrey drove down TO Phlladel-
phia. The trip occupied two days aud
nights The children did rot dis
cover themselves Their terror OF
oriug abandoned outwelgh,d all their
other fears.
Gottfrey stopped over night at road
side linus, leaving the wagon IN the
vard, and John clambered down, when
all ~as still, aud found some turnips
in neigh boring field, which kept
the little wanderers from actual star.
yatlon.
Ga the morning Of the third day.
Gottfrev started long b'fore light.
and at dawn drove into wide enclo.-
urse. in which were great houses made
Of canvass TIE end had me. Now
t.ey could show themselves. He
aouli be angry, perhaps. But he
would not leave them. He would
take IheH none
He embarrassed the mules and led
them away, IS they supposed 10 iced
them. Then he would return 10 unload
the corn, and would find them.
When he reached the gate, they saw
him stop and parIey for some time with
couple Of men then mounting one
Of The mules he rode away.
The children waited, afraid 10 speak
lest the men IN the field should dis
cover them. Maria began to sob. She
was weak from long fasting. aud for
the tirst time in her life she was unit
dy and uuwashed. The neat little
Moravlau loathed herself.
Look here - cried John, peeping
out through the sacks. Out of one of
the tents came man striped from
head TO foot like a zebra, another in
purple velvet and sprangles. and u
hairy with tlutterlng gauze wings
Maria had never heard of fairies. She
had never read Of anything which
could explain these monsters.
\ miutute later Il man Carrying a
great bask ket OF raw beef went into one
OF the tents and there Game from in
side furious growIs, yelps, and, the
roar Of lion.
Johns red face turned to- pasty
color. lie shook as If the beasts had
him In their jaws, and opening his
mouth. uttered shrlll shrleks. Maria
without word got up. and catching
hlm By he shoulder dragged him down
form the wagon, towards the gate
Il MAS then that she showed that there
u IS good stuff IN her.
Hush :" she sad. Come out Of this
| am gong home
Just then the flap of another tent
lifted, and two moving mountains Of
flesh came out, aud advanced towards
her. The girl had never seen even the
picture of an elephant. She stood still
as if paralyzed, in front of them.
I'm going home" she mechanical
ly repeated, looking up at them. Some
oi the men dragged her out of the path
"Who are you: Where did you come
from? they asked.
Jotn was too frightened to speak
We came on Gottlrey Sohner's wagon,
said Maria, her round eyes still fixed
on the elephants.
The Dutch man who brought the
corn ?" said one of the men. "Why did
pou stay behind him. lie las gone
home long ago.
John gave Ia cry OF despair, and the
poor girl sank as If she had been shot.
Hunger and terror, with this last
blow, hal crushed her stout little heart
at last. The children were ia Il circus
and menagerle to which Sohner, by
prtviols agreement, had brought his
corn aud oats.
Some of the woman took Maria tn
their tent aud put her to bed They
gave John some work about the horses
for doing which he received his meals
The two children We're kindly treated
and even petteL by all the queer, half
wild people of the circus. The poor
gIrlsw no rode eu the bare backed horses
IN robes of tulle, ran in between the
acts to see if Maria had eaten her soup
and to pat her stout shoulders and
nod kindly to her.
The next morning the manager sent
Tor the children.
"Sohner," he said, cleft his wagon
for us to bring with US. We 60 to
Easton next week. Will you wait and
with us? We shall pass through the
village. Or shall We send you direct
ly home: If you stay, these ladies
will take good care Of the little girl. :"
1t was Maria, as usual, who spoke.
"We'il go home, please. The ladies
are very kind. Butt want mother" ,"
and she began tn sob
The bare backed rider looked at the
clown, who jerked off his cap edged
with bells and passed it around. The
silver pieces jingled in it, until there
was just enough to pay for the chill.
ii far, tho